INDIANAPOLIS — When Dean Pees left the Patriots earlier this past offseason (reports differ as to whether he jumped or was pushed overboard after six years in New England, the last four as defensive coordinator), it was just a matter of time before he was linked to the vacant defensive coordinators’ position in Denver.

On the surface, it seemed like a natural move: Mike Nolan had left the Broncos defensive coordinator job for the same position in Miami. McDaniels and Pees were together on the New England staff from 2004 to 2008, and it was believed the two got along well together when they were together with the Patriots.

But this weekend at the NFL Scouting Combine, Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels said Pees was never a serious candidate for the Denver job. Instead, it was a case of people putting two and two together and ending up with five.

“I had a relationship with Dean, obviously, in New England,” McDaniels said. “I think it was just a case where he was kind of out there, available, we had an opening and people seemed to connect the dots, probably mistakenly. Most of that conversation, there was no fruit to it.”

Instead, the Broncos decided to promote from within, elevating the popular linebackers coach Don “Wink” Martindale to the position of defensive coordinator. (Pees ended up as the linebackers coach in Baltimore.) It was a move some people believed was sparked after the players’ lobbied heavily for Martindale.

“We didn’t make any decisions based on that, but always the input from your players is something you would consider because their input obviously matters to us, what they think about a coach’s ability in their room is critical,” McDaniels said. “They provided great insight, some of which I knew, some of which I didn’t.

“We’re excited, we’re excited about the direction we’re going to go.”

Dean Pees joins Baltimore after six seasons in New England. (AP)

Former Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees was named the linebackers coach with Baltimore Tuesday morning. Pees, who was in New England for six seasons — the last four as defensive coordinator and two years before that as linebackers coach — announced earlier this month that he wouldn’t be returning to the Patriots after his four-year contract had run its course.

“It’s a privilege and an honor to be a part of an organization like the Ravens,” the 60-year-old Pees said in a statement issued through the team. “I’m very anxious and excited for the opportunity to work with coach Harbaugh and also Greg Mattison, with whom I have coached. I think this is a tremendous opportunity and something that my family and I are very excited about. I can’t wait to get to work.”

Baltimore coach Jim Harbaugh was effusive in his praise of Pees, who was the defensive coordinator in New England the last four seasons.

“I’ve know Dean for 27 years, and he’s our type of coach — energetic, hard-working and innovative,” Harbaugh stated. “He has worked with all three levels of defense — defensive line, linebackers and secondary. His experience and wealth of knowledge speak for themselves. Dean has also earned respect from his players and fellow coaches because he has been a coordinator. He’ll help our linebackers complement the guys up front and in the back end. He’ll fit in with us well, and we’re excited to get him.”

The Patriots have yet to name a replacement for Pees. The two leading candidates are believed to be current New England linebackers coach Matt Patricia and defensive line coach Pepper Johnson.

According to a report from profootballtalk.com, former Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees will become the new linebackers coach in Baltimore. Pees, who spent the last four seasons as the defensive coordinator in New England, did not return to the Patriots after his contract ran out at the end of the 2009 season. The Patriots have not announced a replacement for Pees.

A report from Profootballtalk.com says former Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees is “the most obvious candidate” to replace outgoing Denver defensive coordionator Mike Nolan. Pees and current Broncos coach Josh McDaniels spent five years together when McDaniels was in New England.

Peter King checked in with Dale & Holley on Friday to give his take on the offseason in the NFL and on this weekends Divisional playoff games.

With Dean Pees now out as defensive coordinator and Romeo Crennel in Kansas City, King talked about why Crennel jumped to the Chiefs and didn’t wait for his old job to open up.

“I know that Romeo Crennel surely was attracted to in Kansas City, is that that thing is going to be his defense,” said King. “He’s going to be making the calls, it’s going to be all him.”

King discussed the coaching situations in Washington and Seatttle, and talked about what he might change the Rooney Rule. King also dished on Mike Holmgren and Bill Parcells, and the possibility of one or both returning to the sidelines in the future.

Here is the transcript. To listen to the full interview click here.

What did you make of the departure of Dean Pees?

Surprised. You sort of got the feeling not that, not that it was dysfunctional all year, but you sort of got the feeling that because they could never really get the pressure that you have to get in today’s NFL, whether or not there was going to be a change made at the end of this year, you felt like something was going to happen. But I was a little bit surprised. It just reinforces the fact that two teams, very, very bottom-line teams, the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots, neither of whom had disastrous defensive seasons, both decide to make changes. To me it points up the year-to-year desperation that you have to try to get it right.

I think with the Patriots it isn’t only the fact that they didn’t get the pressure on the quarterback that they really wanted, even though I think Tully Banta-Cain finished with 10 sacks, they never really got Derrick Burgess going in terms of sack-mode. I think he had some very effective games, but he and Adalius Thomas never became that guy. They never developed any real great pass rush threats and the fact, the number that jumps off the page with the Patriots is giving up 4.4 yards a rush. I was looking at stats at the end of the year and I said, “Wow. I didn’t know it was that bad.” But I do think that some of the things are fixable and they are especially fixable if you got four picks in the top 53 or 52. I’m sure that the Patriots will go for at least one edge rusher in the first couple of rounds in April.

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Pees has served as New England's defensive coordinator the last four seasons. (AP)

Patriots’ defensive coordinator Dean Pees will not be back with the Patriots in 2010.

Pees spent the last four seasons in New England as defensive coordinator. Prior to that, he spent two years as the Patriots linebackers coach.

Pees issued a statement late Thursday afternoon through the team, saying his contract had ended and he was leaving to “pursue other opportunities.”

“My contract with the New England Patriots will expire in a couple of weeks and I have informed Mr. Kraft and Coach Belichick that I will not seek to renew it. I enjoyed my time in New England, but feel this is the right time to pursue other opportunities.

“I had the privilege of working with some great coaches and great players over the past six seasons and leave the Patriots with some wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. In addition to the players and coaching staff, I want to thank the Kraft family, the media and the fans for all of their support.”

Pees led a defense that finished 11th overall this past season, but was lacking in many significant areas, including overall pass defense.

Named the defensive coordinator on Bill Belichick’s staff on January 17, 2006. Pees served as the Patriots’ linebackers coach from 2004-05. Pees joined Belichick’s staff prior to the 2004 season after a tenure as the head coach at Kent State.

The Patriots have averaged less than 20 points per game allowed in every season that Pees has been defensive coordinator. However, before the start of the 2009 season, the New England defense underwent tremendous change on the defensive side of the ball, as veterans like Rodney Harrison, Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Richard Seymour were either traded, retired or released.

With all the changes, the 2009 defense was still fifth in fewest points allowed, but still struggled in many key areas, including pass rush — New England finished with just 31 sacks, tied for 23rd in the league.

Late in the season, Pees had a bit of a health scare when he was rushed to a Houston hospital during the regular-season finale against the Texans with shortness of breath. The 60-year-old  underwent a battery of tests that evening and passed them all, and returned to Boston the following day. In addition, Pees told Boston.com on Thursday night he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent surgery over the summer. (He said he is now cancer-free.) He also said he suffered from a blood clot in his leg.

Among possible candidates to replace Pees are defensive line coach Pepper Johnson and linebackers coach Matt Patricia.

FOXBORO  –  Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees was back at work on Tuesday after leaving Sunday’s game in the second half with shortness of breath.

He returned to New England on Monday after being held in Houston for observation.

“Actually, I asked him how he was doing he was doing fine,” Patriots defensive lineman Ty Warren said on Tuesday.

The Patriots held meetings on Tuesday to begin preparations for the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday at Gillette Stadium in the opening round of the AFC playoffs.